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- BGG rating
- 7.5
In the Hall of the Mountain King
- 2–5 players
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- 2019
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- 6.5
Dam It!
2018
Rules assistance for Dam It!
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 20 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.1/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Dam It!
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Dam It! is a board game released in 2018 for 2–4 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Graeme Jahns and its main mechanics are Set Collection.
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About the game
The dam construction competition is in full swing in Dam It! Who can build the most valuable dams from the different types of wood? The tallest dams bring the most points, but you need to keep the garbage clear of your dams because no one likes to see that, so don't neglect the beaver garbage collection crews. In detail, before play begins, lay out the fifteen dam cards in five piles based on the "dam sum" total at that top of the cards; for cards with the same number, stack the cards worth more points on top of those worth fewer. Shuffle the deck of wood, garbage, and garbage removal cards and lay four out in a face-up row; give each player four wood cubes. On a turn, a player either builds a dam or takes a card. The player can take the leftmost card for free; if they want a different card, they must place a wood cube on each card they skip. (If you take a card with cubes on it, add them to your supply for possible use later.) If you pick up a wood card, add it to your hand. If you pick up a garbage card, immediately discard a garbage removal card or else place the garbage in your scored dam pile. If you pick up garbage removal, add it to your hand; you can use it to remove garbage drawn later, or you can use it in a dam. When you build a dam, you lay down wood cards of all different types, with each wood card having a value of 1-3. Based on the sum of the dam, take the topmost dam card that best matches the value of the dam. If you play a garbage removal card in a dam, count it as a joker wood of value 2. When the deck runs out or all the dam cards have been claimed, the game ends. Sum the points on all dam cards collected, add 1 point for each two wood cubes you have, then subtract the square of the numbere of garbage cards you've collected, up to a maximum of -25 points. Whoever has the most points wins!
Questions and answers
Dam It! supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Dam It! is 20 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Dam It! for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Dam It! has a complexity rating of 1.1 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Dam It! belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Set Collection. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Dam It! are: Graeme Jahns. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Dam It! as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.